Requesting Acoustic Treatment Advice For Studio Makeover

[Warrior]

Location: Ypsilanti, Michigan (USA)
Budget: Approx: $1000

I am actually moving forward with my studio upgrades. Just starting the project and I’m doing a little drywall work, some lighting, paint and acoustic treatment. New laminate floor to follow soon.

I’ve attached a Sketchup file showing my studio dimensions. I am hoping I can get some solid input for acoustic treatment. I’m hoping the Sketch provides enough information. Please let me know if I need to provide anything else.

Key Points
1) I’m not concerned with soundproofing. The vast majority of tracking will be virtual instruments. My primary goal is acoustic treatment for mixing.

2) My mix desk will be (and is currently) set up facing the rear wall (12’ 6” wall) and centered left to right.

3) I do not intend to do any structural changes.

4) This room is in the basement. It is poured concrete walls and floor. Walls are 2x4 framed and drywall. Ceiling is drywall.

5) Floor is currently carpet over cement. New laminate floor to follow soon.

6) I’m planning to make my own treatments using primarily rigid fiberglass (i.e. Owens Corning 703).

7) I use this room for teaching guitar so I want it to be space friendly w/o sacrificing sound quality.

Thank you.

[Soundman2020]

2) My mix desk will be (and is currently) set up facing the rear wall (12’ 6” wall) and centered left to right.

Great! That's the best place for it, in that room.

It is poured concrete walls and floor. Walls are 2x4 framed and drywall

Ummm. So how can the walls be both concrete and also drywall? Are you saying that there are studs attached to the concrete walls, with drywall on top of that? If so, you have a problem: your walls are resonant panel traps.

5) Floor is currently carpet over cement. New laminate floor to follow soon.

Good! The laminate will give you a much better floor than carpet.

7) I use this room for teaching guitar so I want it to be space friendly w/o sacrificing sound quality.

So it is a dual purpose room? Both control room and also rehearsal room? When you say "guitar", I assume you mean acoustic guitar? What other instruments will you be recording in there?

Anyway basic acoustic treatment for that room is first to get your speaker geometry correct. Put your speakers and chair in the correct relative locations, based on the general rules of thumb, then adjust as necessary to get the best sound. With that done, install the usual basic treatment for small rooms: lots of bass trapping in as many corners as you can, thick absorption on first reflection points, then measure the room response and see what else needs to be done.

That's the normal approach.


- Stuart -

[Warrior]

It is poured concrete walls and floor. Walls are 2x4 framed and drywall. Ummm. So how can the walls be both concrete and also drywall? Are you saying that there are studs attached to the concrete walls, with drywall on top of that? If so, you have a problem: your walls are resonant panel traps..

Yes, studs attached to concrete walls with drywall on top. Am I going to nee to do anything to counter this asside from the bass trapping, etc you mention below?

So it is a dual purpose room? Both control room and also rehearsal room? When you say "guitar", I assume you mean acoustic guitar? What other instruments will you be recording in there?.

I will be recording primarily electric guitar and bass guitar via direct amp modeling. No mics. Drums will be virtual drums via programming. I will be recording some minimal acoustic guitar and minimal vocals.

Anyway basic acoustic treatment for that room is first to get your speaker geometry correct. Put your speakers and chair in the correct relative locations, based on the general rules of thumb, then adjust as necessary to get the best sound. With that done, install the usual basic treatment for small rooms: lots of bass trapping in as many corners as you can, thick absorption on first reflection points, then measure the room response and see what else needs to be done.

That's the normal approach.


- Stuart -

Thanks Stuart. I'll see if I can draw up the treatments per your recommendation and post it here to get feedback.

I appreciate the help!

- Jeff

[Warrior]

Stuart,
I've finally finished painting and installing my new vynil laminate floor. I am now preparing to begin building and installing the basic acoustic treatments as suggested.

I've included a few pics of how it looks so far. Keep in mind speakers are not positioned and will be on heavy mass, isolated stands.

Studio 1.jpg

Studio 2.jpg

Studio Rear.jpg

I do have a question regarding bass traps.

I am undecided between using superchunks in the vertical corners (floor to ceiling) or vertical panels of 703 installed diagonally in the corners (floor to ceiling).

Can you offer some advice on this please?

[Soundman2020]

I am undecided between using superchunks in the vertical corners (floor to ceiling) or vertical panels of 703 installed diagonally in the corners (floor to ceiling).

Either will work fine. Superchunks are a bit more effective, as they are much deeper, but 4" or 6" panels of 703 will work quite well too.

- Stuart -

[Warrior]

Thank you sir!